MHK accuses Cabinet Office of Steam Packet smear campaign Chief Minister asked to apologise to operator s staff
The Cabinet Office has been accused of running a smear campaign against the Steam Packet Company following the outbreak of coronavirus that led to the Island s third lockdown.
Middle MHK Bill Shimmins asked the chief minister to apologise to the ferry operator s staff in this week s sitting of the House of Keys.
Howard Quayle made a statement after a report into the Steam Packet s self-isolation protocols was published last week.
Mr Shimmins called for Mr Quayle to say sorry:
Mr Quayle says statements were made as a result of evidence received by the Council of Ministers:
CM sorry for Steam Packet missed opportunities
The Chief Minister says he s sorry opportunities to clarify Steam Packet self-isolation rules were missed.
Howard Quayle has been making a statement in the House of Keys after a report into the ferry operator s protocols were published last week.
The investigation found there had been a seven-day delay in contact tracing.
When a UK worker tested positive for Covid19, first reported on Friday 12 February, 7 close contacts were tested and all came back as negative. Four other Manx-based workers subsequently tested positive.
Mr Quayle says the situation should have been dealt with sooner:
Chief Minister sorry over Steam Packet isolation mistakes
Tue, 25 May 2021
The Chief Minister has apologised for missed opportunities following the Steam Packet COVID-19 outbreak back in February. Howard Quayle delivered a statement in the House of Keys today after a indenpendet review was published. A series of recommendations were made in the report which the Council of Ministers accepted. Mr Quayle said: As I said at the point of publication of the report last week, the difference of opinion that emerged in February as to the Steam Packet’s COVID-19 mitigations was concerning and I therefore asked for a report, to establish the facts. It was important we understood what additional measures were needed to reduce the risk of the virus entering our Island, and to ensure any lessons to prevent a recurrence were learned.
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